- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
- cross-posted to:
- technology@lemmy.world
Swapping SIM cards used to be easy, and then came eSIM.
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I have 5 esims and swap betwen them offten, click and done. SIMs are a pita.
Seems to be migration to phones every other week for reviews is an issie but not one most people are going to have ? I’ve had the same phone for years now
I think the nightmare starts when your phone stops working completely, I experienced this without eSim and it was already complicated for a switch, I guess eSim adds some problems, but overall I think it still makes things easier, especially when you travel and the roaming fees are too expensive
Until you have to move them to another phone. Especially if there is special provisioning on the SIM that you have to call the carrier to provision every time a new eSIM is issued, since few scenarios let a direct eSIM copy occur. (Apple may be the only one.)
I’ve been using Google Fi for the last few Pixel phones I’ve been on. Each time I’ve switched, during setup I just get asked if I’d like to activate the phone (with a warning that my old one will be deactivated) and I click yes. It’s then active before I can even complete the phone’s OOBE setup.
Android also does apparently have a “copy to another device” function mentioned here, but they hint to what you said regarding carrier limitations applying. Though Apple’s quick eSIM transfer has a similar note as well.
Definitely seems like a “When it all lines up, it can be convenient, but when it doesn’t you’re fucked” situation.
Google Fi definitely has a smooth experience, even to/from pSIM, eSIM, and no real need for special SIM features. They implemented that very well. Now, every tier 1 carrier in the US, eeeeeeek!
My phone provider requires you contact them to authorise the esim swap (even if you are signed into their app on both phones). I wonder if they do that too make SIM stealing easier
It depends on what you change more often.
If you change your provider more often, than eSIMs are fine. You don’t have to wait for anything in the mail, or go to a store.
If you (me) keep your provider for a couple decades, a physical SIM card can be moved to any new phone at any time, without even needing to talk to your provider. Never mind asking them to approve your new niche little phone they’ve never heard of, and don’t know will work (it will)
I moved to eSIM a few years ago and I had to switch back to physical.
Swapping sims is easier now. You scan a QR code, wait 30 minutes, restart phone and you’re good to go. No need to wait for a sim card to be mailed to you. No need to purchase a sim card in the local store.
But if I am trying to debug some mobile connection related thing I can’t be waiting 30 minutes to swap it back and forth every time. Then I won’t be able to solve the problem in a timely fashion.
That isn’t the normal use of a smartphone. For the average person who rarely changes network and doesn’t debug connectivity issues eSIM is the better option.
Well, yes, under normal circumstances things work properly and do not need to be debugged. But generally eventually any system encounters abnormal circumstances, and one does not want the correct answer to be “give up on that system forever and go home”.
